Theo is on the bench because Fonseca is also dissatisfied with his training attitude

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Luca Bianchin, AC Milan vice-captain Theo Hernández’s recent struggles are not coincidental, and head coach Paulo Fonseca is addressing his issues in his own way.

Luca Bianchin pointed out that unless something changes, Theo is unlikely to start in the match against Genoa. Fonseca is handling him similarly to how he managed Leão in the past: giving him a break in hopes that it will help him regain better form for upcoming games. With less than 48 hours until Milan’s match against Genoa, anything can happen, but for this third-to-last game of the year, Milan is preparing to field a lineup that differs from the usual. Terracciano is expected to start on the left flank, with alternatives like Bartesaghi and Jiménez, who also trained with the first team on Friday.

In short, Fonseca remains consistent with his approach, as he has been since the beginning of the season: if something isn’t right, he intervenes immediately. This may stem from a sense of fairness to other players, as he strives to treat everyone equally. His relationship with Theo is particularly complex, more so than with other players. Fonseca has been dissatisfied with Theo’s training methods and on-field performances and has taken action accordingly. The coach’s comments after Wednesday night’s Champions League match were primarily directed at the French fullback.

In the past, Theo was one of Milan’s and Serie A’s best players, but this season, his performances have fallen short of the standards expected from a champion. This season began with Theo on the bench in the opening match, with players from the preseason tour taking the field. The same occurred in the third round against Lazio, where he and Leão were both punished for their poor performances in the away match against Parma. Since then, he has been a regular starter in both league and cup matches.

Ahead of Milan’s match against Red Star Belgrade, Fonseca explained that Theo’s situation is not comparable to that of his winger teammate: “Theo and Rafa’s situations are different.” However, that match marked a turning point, as shown by post-match statements and discussions between the coach and players at Milanello. On Sunday, among the 11 players wearing the special 125th-anniversary jersey, Theo, wearing number 19, is unlikely to be included in the starting lineup.